If he is found guilty, Pistorius will get a life sentence, which is 25 years. He will only be eligible to apply for parole after serving that term, under a schedule 6 conviction.

Prosecutors in the Pistorius case are arguing it is a Schedule 6. Pistorius's defence team wants the charge downgraded to a Schedule 5 - murder (not premeditated) - which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years for a first offender.

If there is a trial when will it be?

Although South African courts are slow, the high interest in this case would mean it could come to trial within six months.

South Africans follow closely on social and traditional media as details of the real life courtroom drama of the Oscar Pistorius case emerge. Simon Hanna reports.

It would probably be held in the the high court in Pretoria. It would be heard by a single judge, possibly accompanied by one or more technical experts, typically magistrates or retired magistrates.

So, no jury?

No jury. South Africa abolished the jury system decades ago because of racial politics. There was no hope of black defendants being given a fair trial because only white people were allowed to sit on juries.

What about media reporting?

A lack of jury means that the typical media reporting restrictions in place for a jury trial in most legal jurisdictions such as Australia's do not apply.

For example, leaked details of a criminal investigation here would be likely to put a publication at risk of being held in contempt of court.

South African investigating officer Hilton Botha.

In South Africa, the reasoning is that judges are trained to put aside their prejudices and decide cases on the merits of the evidence before them and the law.

And, unlike juries, they also have to give reasons for their decisions.

No death penalty?

No, it was abolished in 1995. In the 100 years until then, about 3500 prisoners were executed in South Africa, usually by hanging.

If Pistorius is found guilty and goes to jail, what can he expect?

Most of South Africa's jails are horribly overcrowded. Riots are common, as are prisoner deaths. Violence, including rape, is rampant. Many prisoners have HIV.

A report into the nation's prisons last year revealed shocking statistics of violence, overcrowding, lack of security and prisoner suicides.

South African Prosecutor Gerrie Nel at the bail hearing of South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius at the Magistrate Court in Pretoria.

In January, three prisoners awaiting trial were killed and 65 others were injured in gang-related violence at the St Albans correctional facility in the Eastern Cape, the South African Press Association reported.

A few days earlier, another riot occurred at the Groenpunt prison in the Free State. Four warders and 50 inmates were injured when inmates torched their cells and parts of the prison facility.

The most feared prison is Pollsmoor in Cape Town, which is home to some of South Africa’s most dangerous criminals and roughest gangsters.

While there is always a chance Pistorius could be jailed there, it is more likely he would serve time at Pretoria Central Prison, which was the official site of capital punishment in South Africa, especially during the apartheid era.

South Africa has the highest prison population in Africa, Correctional Services Minister Sbu Ndebele admitted last week.

“We are currently ranked ninth in the world in terms of prison population, with approximately 160 000 inmates,” he said in a speech.

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